- Home
- Idioms
- deck
deck
not playing with a full deck
1. Not mentally sound; crazy or mentally deranged. A: "Look at that guy talking to himself on the corner." B: "I reckon he's not playing with a full deck."
2. Not very bright or intelligent; dimwitted. Jim's a nice guy, but with some of the foolish things he does, I wonder if he's not playing with a full deck.
be one card shy of a (full) deck
To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one card shy of a full deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one card shy of a deck, if you ask me.
be several cards short of a (full) deck
To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be several cards short of a deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's several cards short of a full deck, if you ask me.
several cards short of a (full) deck
A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be several cards short of a deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's several cards short of a full deck, if you ask me.
one card shy of a (full) deck
A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one card shy of a full deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one card shy of a deck, if you ask me.
all hands on deck
1. A call for all members of a ship's crew to come to the deck, usually in a time of crisis. (A "hand" is a member of a ship's crew.) We're under attack! All hands on deck!
2. By extension, everyone available to help with a problem, or a call for those people to help. Your grandmother arrives tomorrow and the house is still a mess—I need all hands on deck to help me clean! All hands on deck! We've got to roll out this tarp before the rain starts. Now let's go!
be one card short of a full deck
To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one card short of a full deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one card short of a full deck, if you ask me.
be several cards short of a full deck
To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be several cards short of a full deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's several cards short of a full deck, if you ask me.
cards are stacked against (one)
[informal] luck is against one. I have the worst luck. The cards are stacked against me all the time. How can I accomplish anything when the cards are stacked against me?
clear the decks
1. Lit. [for everyone] leave the deck of a ship and prepare for action. (A naval expression urging seaman to stow gear and prepare for battle or other action.) An attack is coming. Clear the decks.
2. Fig. get out of the way; get out of this area. Clear the decks! Here comes the teacher. Clear the decks and take your seats.
deck someone or something out (in something)
and deck someone or something out (with something)to decorate someone or something with something. Sally decked all her children out for the holiday party. She decked out her children in Halloween costumes. Tom decked the room out with garlands of flowers.
few bricks short of a load
and few cards shy of a full deck; few cards short of a deck; not playing with a full deck; two bricks shy of a loadFig. lacking in intellectual ability. (Many other variants.) Tom: Joe thinks he can build a car out of old milk jugs. Mary: I think Joe's a few bricks short of a load. Ever since she fell and hit her head, Jane's been a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I'm saying. Bob's nice, but he's not playing with a full deck. You twit! You're two bricks shy of a load.
have the cards stacked against (one)
and have the deck stacked against oneFig. to have one's chance at future success limited by factors over which one has no control; to have luck against one. You can't get very far in life if you have the deck stacked against you. I can't seem to get ahead. I always have the cards stacked against me.
have the deck stacked against
one Go to have the cards stacked against one.
hit the deck
1. Fig. to fall down; to drop down to the floor or ground. Hit the deck. Don't let them see you. I hit the deck the minute I heard the shots.
2. Fig. to get out of bed. Come on, hit the deck! It's morning. Hit the deck! Time to rise and shine!
on deck
1. Lit. on the deck of a boat or a ship. Everyone except the cook was on deck when the storm hit. Just pull up the anchor and leave it on deck.
2. Fig. ready (to do something); ready to be next (at something). Ann, get on deck. You're next. Who's on deck now?
play with a full deck
1. Lit. to play cards with a complete deck, containing all the cards. Are we playing with a full deck or did some card drop on the floor? I haven't seen the three of hearts all evening!
2. Fig. to operate as if one were mentally sound. (Usually in the negative. One cannot play cards properly with a partial deck.) That guy's not playing with a full deck. Look sharp, you dummies! Pretend you are playing with a full deck.
stack the deck (against someone or something)
and stack the cards (against someone or something)to arrange things against someone or something. (Originally from card playing; stacking the deck is to cheat by arranging the cards to be dealt out to one's advantage.) I can't get ahead at my office. Someone has stacked the cards against me. Do you really think that someone has stacked the deck? Isn't it just fate?
on deck
ready or available The TV audience expects something good on deck after the news.
Etymology: based on the idea of being on the deck (flat surface) of a ship, ready for whatever must be done
deck out somebody/something
also deck somebody/something out to decorate someone or something in something special The stewards were decked out in beautiful new uniforms. Some salesman had decked the car out, giving it racing wheels and stripes on the sides.
hit the deck
to fall to the ground suddenly to avoid danger hit the dirt At the sound of gunfire, we all hit the deck.
stack the deck
also the deck is stacked against you to arrange something so that it is unfair to someone We wanted to make sure no one was stacking the deck in their favor. The deck truly is stacked against the poor.
Etymology: based on a way of cheating in a card game by secretly arranging the cards so that you will win
clear the decks
to finish what you are doing in order to do something more important His company is clearing the decks to begin work on a major new product.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clear the decks (prepare a ship to fight by putting away everything that is not necessary)
be one card/several cards short of a full deck
(humorous) if someone is one card short of a full deck, they are stupid or crazy Do you think your cousin might be one card short of a full deck?
clear the decks
(informal) to finish dealing with what you are doing so that you can start to do something more important
Usage notes: If navy officers clear the decks they prepare a ship for war.
His company is clearing the decks for major new investment in the Far East. on deck
1. (American & Australian) if someone is on deck, they are present and ready to do something Bill's batting next - tell him to get on deck. Ann, if you can be on deck at 9.00 I'll give you a lift to the meeting.
2. (Australian informal) alive Don't tell me old Bill's still on deck. I thought he died years ago.
See stack the deck, hit the deckall hands on deck
also all hands to the pumps something that you say when everyone's help is needed, especially to do a lot of work in a short amount of time We've got to get all this cleared up before they arrive so it's all hands on deck.
hit the deck/dirt
(American & Australian informal) to fall to the ground, or to quickly lie on the ground, especially to avoid danger The shooting started, and I heard someone shout 'Hit the deck!'
stack the deck
(mainly American) to arrange something in a way that is not fair in order to achieve what you want
Usage notes: This phrase comes from the idea of arranging a set of cards in a card game so that you will win.
The manager stacked the deck in Joe's favor so he got the promotion. cards are stacked against
Many difficulties face someone or something, as in The cards are stacked against the new highway project. This term originated in gambling, where to stack the cards or stack the deck means to arrange cards secretly and dishonestly in one's own favor or against one's opponent. [Mid-1800s]
clear the decks
Prepare for action, as in I've finished all these memos and cleared the decks for your project, or Clear the decks-here comes the coach. This expression originated in naval warfare, when it described preparing for battle by removing or fastening down all loose objects on the ship's decks. [Second half of 1800s]
deck out
Decorate, dress up, as in They were all decked out in their best clothes. [Mid-1700s]
hit the deck
Also, hit the dirt. Fall to the ground, usually for protection. For example, As the planes approached, we hit the deck, or We heard shooting and hit the dirt. In the early 1900s the first expression was nautical slang for "jump out of bed," or "wake up," and somewhat later, "get going." The current meaning dates from the 1920s.
on deck
1. Available, ready for action, as in We had ten kids on deck to clean up after the dance. [Slang; second half of 1800s]
2. In baseball, scheduled to bat next, waiting near home plate to bat, as in Joe was on deck next. [1860s] Both usages allude to crew members being on the deck of a ship, in readiness to perform their duties.
deck
1. tv. to knock someone to the ground. Fred decked Bob with one blow.
2. n. a pack of cigarettes. Can you toss me a deck of fags, please?
hit the deck
1. tv. to get out of bed. Come on, hit the deck! It’s morning.
2. tv. to fall down; to drop down. I hit the deck the minute I heard the shots.
play with a full deck
in. to operate as if one were mentally sound. (Usually in the negative. One cannot play cards with a partial deck.) Look sharp, you dummies! Pretend you are playing with a full deck.
stack the deck
tv. to arrange things secretly for a desired outcome. (From card playing where a cheater may arrange the order of the cards that are to be dealt to the players.) The president stacked the deck so I would be appointed head of the finance committee.
clear the deck
Informal To prepare for action.
hit the deck
Slang 1. To get out of bed.
2. To fall or drop to a prone position.
3. To prepare for action.
on deck
1. On hand; present.
2. Sports Waiting to take one's turn, especially as a batter in baseball.
play with a full deck
Slang To be of sound mind: didn't seem to be playing with a full deck.